246 EXAMPLES FURNISHED BY 



" There 's something in this more than natural, if 

 philosophy could find it out." Two or three exam- 

 ples of the kind alluded to may be mentioned, es- 

 pecially as they have occurred in the immediate vici- 

 nity of this town. 



In August, 1825, a moth, with wings prettily 

 marked, and of a metalUc lustre (Plusia festucce), 

 appeared one evening at Cranmore, in considerable 

 numbers, flying among the shrubs and flowers. A 

 few were seen on the succeeding night ; and from 

 that period to the present, none, save one or two 

 solitary specimens, have been observed. They were 

 accompanied by unusual numbers of the gamma- 

 moth, and seemed particularly attracted by large beds 

 of the common pink (Dianthus caryophyllus), flitting 

 from flower to flower, and banquetting on the nectar 

 they afforded. 



A common little gnat (Chironomus virescens), ap- 

 peared in 1832, in very unusual numbers, in this 

 neighbourhood. Mr. Haliday, in speaking of this 

 insect, remarks : — " This little fly caused no little 

 alarm this summer ; its appearance in swarms being 

 adjudged, by vulgar rumour, a precursor of cholera. 

 In some places, they appeared in such numbers, that 

 the inhabitants had some trouble in shovelling them 

 out of their houses (in my informant's words). At 



